RESTRUCTURING, IMPAIRMENT AND PLANT CLOSING COSTS - CASH AND NONCASH RESTRUCTURING CHARGES AND OTHER INFORMATION (Details) $ in Millions | Feb. 12, 2015kt | Dec. 31, 2014item | Dec. 31, 2016USD ($) | Sep. 30, 2016USD ($) | Jun. 30, 2016USD ($) | Mar. 31, 2016USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2015USD ($) | Sep. 30, 2015USD ($) | Jun. 30, 2015USD ($) | Mar. 31, 2015USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2014USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2017USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2016USD ($)item | Dec. 31, 2015USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2014USD ($) | Sep. 30, 2018USD ($) |
Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Reversal of reserves no longer required | | | | | | | | | | | | | $ (2) | $ (13) | $ (5) | |
Pension-related charges | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3 | 2 | |
Accelerated depreciation | | | | | | | | | | | | | 8 | 74 | | |
Non-cash charges (credits), net | | | | | | | | | | | | | (3) | 38 | 32 | |
Total restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs | | | $ (6) | $ 45 | $ 29 | $ 13 | $ 81 | $ 14 | $ 114 | $ 93 | | | 81 | 302 | 158 | |
Other non-cash charges | | | | | | | | | | | | | 5 | 112 | 37 | |
Impairment of long-lived assets | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | 19 | | |
Corporate and Other | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring charges | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 8 | 13 | |
Reversal of reserves no longer required | | | | | | | | | | | | | (1) | (1) | (1) | |
Calais, France Facility | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Accelerated depreciation | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 68 | | |
Non-cash charges (credits), net | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 17 | | |
Decrease in titanium dioxide capacity due to closing operations | kt | 100 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Decrease in titanium dioxide capacity due to closing operations (as a percent) | 13.00% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Performance Products | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring charges | | | | | | | | | | | | | 16 | | | |
Reversal of reserves no longer required | | | | | | | | | | | | | | (1) | | |
Polyurethanes | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Reversal of reserves no longer required | | | | | | | | | | | | | (1) | (4) | (1) | |
Polyurethanes | Netherlands | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Non-cash charges (credits), net | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 16 | |
Advanced Materials | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Reversal of reserves no longer required | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | (2) | |
Textile Effects | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring charges | | | | | | | 14 | | | | | | | | 19 | |
Reversal of reserves no longer required | | | | | | | | | | | | | | (7) | (1) | |
Non-cash charges (credits), net | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 9 | |
Pigments and Additives | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Pension-related charges | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3 | | |
Accelerated depreciation | | | | | | | | | | | | | 8 | | | |
Pigments and Additives | Forecast | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring charges | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | $ 5 |
Pigments and Additives | South African asset group of Pigments and Additives | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Impairment of long-lived assets | | | | | | | $ 19 | | | | | | | | | |
Pigments and Additives | South African Titanium Dioxide Manufacturing Facility | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring charges | | | | | | | | | | | | | 6 | | | |
Impairment of long-lived assets to be disposed of | | | | | $ 1 | | | | | | | | | | | |
Color Pigments Business | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring charges | | | | | | | | | | | | | 15 | | | |
Color Pigments Business | Forecast | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring charges | | | | | | | | | | | | $ 10 | | | | |
Non-cancelable lease and contract termination costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Reversal of reserves no longer required | | | | | | | | | | | | | | (6) | | |
Non-cancelable lease and contract termination costs | Textile Effects | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring charges | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 9 | | |
Non-cancelable lease and contract termination costs | Textile Effects | Basel, Switzerland | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring charges | | | | | | | | | | | | | 9 | | | |
Demolition and decommissioning | Textile Effects | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring charges | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 21 | | |
Demolition and decommissioning | Textile Effects | Basel, Switzerland | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring charges | | | | | | | | | | | | | 20 | | | |
Other restructuring costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Reversal of reserves no longer required | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | (1) | |
Other restructuring costs | Textile Effects | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring charges | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | |
Other restructuring costs | Pigments and Additives | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring charges | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 15 | | |
Workforce reductions | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Reversal of reserves no longer required | | | | | | | | | | | | | $ (2) | (7) | (4) | |
Number of positions terminated | item | | | | | | | | | | | | | 375 | | | |
Workforce reductions | Calais, France Facility | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring charges | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 30 | | |
Workforce reductions | Performance Products | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring charges | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 8 | 23 | |
Workforce reductions | Polyurethanes | Europe | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring charges | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 13 | | |
Workforce reductions | Advanced Materials | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring charges | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 11 | |
Workforce reductions | Advanced Materials | Europe | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring charges | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 11 | | |
Workforce reductions | Textile Effects | Qingdao, China | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring charges | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 6 | |
Workforce reductions | Pigments and Additives | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring charges | | | | | | | | | | | $ 57 | | $ 3 | 61 | | |
Number of positions terminated | item | | 900 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Workforce reductions | Pigments and Additives | Forecast | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring charges | | | | | | | | | | | | $ 4 | | | | |
Workforce reductions | Color Pigments Business | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring charges | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4 | | |
2013 and prior initiatives | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring charges | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 65 | |
2013 and prior initiatives | Corporate and Other | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring charges | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 14 | |
2013 and prior initiatives | Performance Products | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring charges | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 23 | |
2013 and prior initiatives | Polyurethanes | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring charges | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | |
2013 and prior initiatives | Advanced Materials | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring charges | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 10 | |
2013 and prior initiatives | Textile Effects | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring charges | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 13 | |
2013 and prior initiatives | Pigments and Additives | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring charges | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3 | |
2013 and prior initiatives | Non-cancelable lease and contract termination costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring charges | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4 | |
2013 and prior initiatives | Demolition and decommissioning | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring charges | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 7 | |
2013 and prior initiatives | Other restructuring costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring charges | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 17 | |
2013 and prior initiatives | Workforce reductions | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring charges | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 37 | |
2014 Initiatives | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring charges | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | $ 64 | |
2014 and prior initiatives | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring charges | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 133 | | |
2014 and prior initiatives | Corporate and Other | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring charges | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 8 | | |
2014 and prior initiatives | Performance Products | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring charges | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3 | | |
2014 and prior initiatives | Polyurethanes | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring charges | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | | |
2014 and prior initiatives | Advanced Materials | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring charges | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | |
2014 and prior initiatives | Textile Effects | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring charges | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 42 | | |
2014 and prior initiatives | Pigments and Additives | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring charges | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 77 | | |
2014 and prior initiatives | Non-cancelable lease and contract termination costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring charges | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 15 | | |
2014 and prior initiatives | Demolition and decommissioning | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring charges | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 24 | | |
2014 and prior initiatives | Other restructuring costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring charges | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 23 | | |
2014 and prior initiatives | Workforce reductions | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring charges | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 71 | | |
2015 initiatives | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring charges | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 67 | | |
2015 initiatives | Corporate and Other | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring charges | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | |
2015 initiatives | Performance Products | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring charges | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 8 | | |
2015 initiatives | Polyurethanes | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring charges | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 17 | | |
2015 initiatives | Advanced Materials | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring charges | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 5 | | |
2015 initiatives | Textile Effects | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring charges | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | | |
2015 initiatives | Pigments and Additives | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring charges | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 34 | | |
2015 initiatives | Demolition and decommissioning | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring charges | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | |
2015 initiatives | Other restructuring costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring charges | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 8 | | |
2015 initiatives | Workforce reductions | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring charges | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 58 | | |
2015 and prior initiatives | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring charges | | | | | | | | | | | | | 66 | | | |
2015 and prior initiatives | Corporate and Other | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring charges | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3 | | | |
2015 and prior initiatives | Performance Products | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring charges | | | | | | | | | | | | | 16 | | | |
2015 and prior initiatives | Textile Effects | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring charges | | | | | | | | | | | | | 28 | | | |
2015 and prior initiatives | Pigments and Additives | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring charges | | | | | | | | | | | | | 19 | | | |
2015 and prior initiatives | Non-cancelable lease and contract termination costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring charges | | | | | | | | | | | | | 9 | | | |
2015 and prior initiatives | Demolition and decommissioning | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring charges | | | | | | | | | | | | | 24 | | | |
2015 and prior initiatives | Other restructuring costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring charges | | | | | | | | | | | | | 29 | | | |
2015 and prior initiatives | Workforce reductions | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring charges | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4 | | | |
2016 initiatives | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring charges | | | | | | | | | | | | | 12 | | | |
2016 initiatives | Corporate and Other | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring charges | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | |
2016 initiatives | Polyurethanes | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring charges | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4 | | | |
2016 initiatives | Textile Effects | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring charges | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | |
2016 initiatives | Pigments and Additives | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring charges | | | | | | | | | | | | | 6 | | | |
2016 initiatives | Other restructuring costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring charges | | | | | | | | | | | | | 5 | | | |
2016 initiatives | Workforce reductions | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring charges | | | | | | | | | | | | | $ 7 | | | |
Other initiatives | Textile Effects | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring charges | | | | | | | | | | | | | | $ 6 | | |